Thomas Franco, 25, will bring diversity, new perspectives By Katy Savage After a rare tie vote in a sixth seat on the Board of Aldermen, a winner haws been declared. John Atwood stepped down on March 3 to give Thomas Franco the victory after they both got 1,222 votes on Town Meeting Day. “Thomas is…

By Lola Duffort/VTDigger Statewide, petitions to disband unified school districts had mixed results on Town Meeting Day. In addition to Stockbridge voting to split with Rochester (see story on page 1), voters favored a breakup at the ballot box in the Addison Central and Windham Northeast Union elementary school districts. But in the Windham Southeast and…

By Katy Savage A month after the Rutland Raiders name was changed to the Rutland Ravens, some fear it could be switched back. Three Rutland school board members, who led a campaign called S.O.S., were elected on Town Meeting Day, promising to demand the name change be reconsidered. Tricia O’Connor, an occupational therapist, got 1,572…

Local high school senior Alexander Stefurak of Ira, who attends Long Trail High School received the phone call from Senator Patrick Leahy congratulating Stefurak on his official appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. Stefurak received all three congressional nominations from Senators Leahy and Sanders as well as from Congressman Peter Welch…

By Brooke Geery East Coast snowboarding icon Tony Chuichiolo passed away unexpectedly on March 6, after a sudden medical event, according to reports. A lifelong Vermonter and long-time Sugarbush employee who dabbled in everything from marketing to park building to events, Chuichiolo built and fostered a scene like no other. He leaves behind three children…

Wide margin gives Allaire confidence heading into third term By Katy Savage Rutland City Mayor David Allaire won his third term in office on Town Meeting Day, March 2, 2021. The incumbent earned 1,356 votes, beating Board of Aldermen members Chris Ettori, who had 1,018 votes and Sam Gorruso, who had 561 votes. Allaire also…

Staff report An environmental court judge has ordered Slate Ridge, a firearms training facility in West Pawlet that has caused local strife and garnered national attention, to permanently close. The court ruled Friday, March 5, that the facility’s owner, Daniel Banyai, must dismantle all of the buildings on his property that do not have a…

Stockbridge residents petition for revote after withdrawal from district is approved By Katy Savage Stockbridge residents decided 125-95 on Town Meeting Day to withdraw from the Rochester-Stockbridge Unified School District and operate Stockbridge Central School on its own, but days after the vote, a petition for a revote began circulating. Janie Feinberg, who is leading…

On Jan. 13, 2021, the Ludlow Rotary Club (LRC) observed its 94th year as a member of Rotary International (RI).  When it was initially incorporated as a member club of RI in January of 1927, there was some doubt among residents as to its durability.  According to one history of the club, “ There were…

Grants awarded to Barton, Ludlow, Middlesex, Northfield, Rutland, Springfield, White River Junction, and Wilmington The Vermont Community Foundation (VCF), the Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD), and the Better Places partners have awarded $129,275 to eight placemaking projects. These grants will help communities reimagine and reopen public spaces for safe dining, shopping, and recreation,…

Staff Report An environmental court judge has ordered Slate Ridge, a firearms training facility in Pawlet that has caused local strife and garnered national attention, to permanently close. The court ruled Friday that the facility’s owner, Daniel Banyai, must dismantle all of the buildings on his property that do not have a zoning permit. He…

By Emma Cotton/VTDigger RUTLAND — An unprecedented tie for a seat on the Rutland Board of Alderman has been resolved between the two candidates. Thomas Franco got seat on the board after John Atwood, who was making his fourth run for the board, announced that he’d remove himself from the race. Each received 1,122 votes in the…

By Kevin O’Connor/VTDigger Stratton Town Clerk D. Kent Young was assembling the annual municipal report when, lacking such past cover photos as a local elder or landscape, he eyed a bulletin-board message that began, “You came here from there because you didn’t like there, and now you want to change here to be like there.” Young…

By Karen D. Lorentz Having grown up next to Mt. Ascutney, where he learned to ski at age 3 and snowboard at 15, C. Michael Bell was part of the first wave of skiers to try riding. “At that time [mid-1980s], snowboarding was just going mainstream and most resorts didn’t allow snowboards on the lifts,…

By Ryan Boeke When trying to open a business during the middle of a pandemic, Digital Surgeons owner Jacob Vincent knew that it would not be an easy challenge. Opening a technology store was something he had always wanted to do, so even with the Covid-19 restrictions in place, he embraced it and knew his…